Didata sells Bots stake

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s biggest IT company, Dimension Data, has sold 49 per cent of its Botswana unit to local investors to profit from their links with business and the government there.

The company, which is listed in London and Johannesburg, said in a statement it had agreed to sell 49 per cent in Dimension Data Botswana to Principal Investments – a consortium of local businessmen. South Africa has pressed the country’s mostly white-controlled companies to sell stakes to black investors at home but Didata is one of the first to adopt a similar approach with local investors elsewhere on the continent.The South Africa-based networking and IT services company has said it wants to beef up its Africa business and win more government contracts, and will team up with local partners to achieve this.”This growth will be realised by ensuring we partner with strong local companies that have in-depth knowledge and experience of local markets,” said Dimension Data Africa Chairman Andile Ngcaba in a statement.Principal Investments is headed by Lawrence Lekalake, a prominent Botswana businessman who has held a string of senior government positions.- Nampa-ReutersSouth Africa has pressed the country’s mostly white-controlled companies to sell stakes to black investors at home but Didata is one of the first to adopt a similar approach with local investors elsewhere on the continent.The South Africa-based networking and IT services company has said it wants to beef up its Africa business and win more government contracts, and will team up with local partners to achieve this.”This growth will be realised by ensuring we partner with strong local companies that have in-depth knowledge and experience of local markets,” said Dimension Data Africa Chairman Andile Ngcaba in a statement.Principal Investments is headed by Lawrence Lekalake, a prominent Botswana businessman who has held a string of senior government positions.- Nampa-Reuters